Dr Reddy, who is on an official visit here, in a statement said that yesterday's events were an attack on India's financial nerve centre. ''I condemn the attacks. It is a time when the entire country should remain united and defeat the nefarious designs of the enemies of the country,'' he said.

Police, he said, had heroically fought the heavily-armed terrorists and many senior police officers and staff had sacrificed their lives.

Stating that the entire country was behind them, he wished the security forces success in the ongoing operations to save innocent hostages and flush out the terrorists. ''I appeal to the people to remain united in this hour of crisis and teach a befitting lesson to the terrorists and their mentors,'' Dr Reddy said.